Andy Murray issues Novak Djokovic warning to Carlos Alcaraz and other youngsters

Tennis News
Novak Djokovic wins a 24th Grand Slam title

Andy Murray has warned the sport’s “young guys” that Novak Djokovic will continue to dominate tennis, especially the Grand Slams, for years to come.

There had been signs over the past few months that rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune are ready to take over from the greats, but Djokovic has proven that he is not quite ready to pass over the baton.

The Serbian took his Slam tally to a record-extending 24 on Sunday with a brilliant three-set win over Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final. It was his third major of the year as he also lifted titles at the Australian Open and French Open while he finished runner-up at Wimbledon.

Former world No 1 Murray praised Djokovic’s longevity as he admitted it doesn’t look like the current crop is quite ready to usurp the Serbian.

“It’s up to the young guys to be pushing Novak and looking to overtake him. It doesn’t look like that’s close to happening,” he told BBC Sport.

“Novak’s been an incredible player for a very long time, like Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal], it’s the longevity and how long they’ve all been able to do that for.

“Novak’s longevity has been the greatest. He’s played at this level for such a long time now.”

Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final back in July and many wondered if Djokovic was on his way out, but Murray says the tennis great is likely to stick around for a few more years.

The three-time Grand Slam winner added: “I said that after Wimbledon, everyone was saying it was a changing of the guard, but it wasn’t for me.

“It was quite clear Novak had won two of the first three Slams and was very, very close in the final of Wimbledon.

“He proved that he’s the best player in the world again [on Sunday] and like I said it’s up to the youngsters to improve enough to take him.

“I don’t think he’s going to stop at 24 titles, but you never know how long it will last. Physically, motivation, whether someone like Alcaraz improves – he’s an amazing player Alcaraz, he’s brilliant, but to do what Novak is doing on a consistent basis is different.

“It’s not the same as doing it for 15-20 weeks a year like Novak is doing, every time he steps on the court. I do think that Alcaraz will soon get to that level but I don’t think this is going to be the last time that Novak wins a Grand Slam.”

READ MORE: ‘If I wasn’t from Serbia, I’d have been glorified on a sporting level many years ago’ – Novak Djokovic

Andy Murray Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic

Latest